Oklahoma's oldest institution of higher education, the University of Central Oklahoma ranks as the third-biggest university in the state with an enrollment of nearly 16,000 students with over 40 states and 97 countries represented.
Founded on Dec. 24, 1890, the school has been through numerous name changes, becoming the University of Central Oklahoma on July 1, 1991 as part of the university's 1990-91 centennial celebration.
The campus has undergone a massive $60 million facelift over the last several years that included the addition of a new classroom building for the College of Education and major renovations to the University Center, Science Building, Communications Annex, Business Building and the Library. On-campus apartments were built just west of Hamilton Field House in the summer of 1999, with additional units added in the summer of 2001.
About 70 percent of UCO's students come from Oklahoma County with more than 90 percent from within state. Nearly one-fourth of UCO's total enrollment is comprised of graduate students pursuing one of 24 master's degrees offered by the university.
Although begun as a Territorial Normal School whose mission was to prepare teachers for common schools, Central Oklahoma is now a comprehensive, regional university serving the Central Oklahoma metroplex with an offering of nearly 100 degree options in six academic colleges. The university includes the College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Mathematics and Science, College of Arts, Media and Design and a Graduate College.
The average class size is 25. Over half of the professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, and lecturers are full-time faculty complemented by adjunct faculty representing areas of expertise and experience from the community.
The 200-acre campus is topped by the historic Old North Tower. The landmark, first used for classes on Jan. 2, 1893 and still in use today, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and dedicated as a national historic site in 1982.
UCO is the largest industry in Edmond, a continually growing suburban community located on the north boundary of Oklahoma City at the geographic center of Oklahoma.
The University of Central Oklahoma is accredited by the North Central Association and the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and holds numerous departmental accreditations.
